The Ibo expansionists always flood my comment sections with the quote “I’m Ibo”, an alleged declaration by Rotimi Amaechi during the build up to 2023 general elections.
Even though such a claim or declaration by an individual during elections cannot and does not in anyway mean that the Iwhuruohna (Ikwerre) People are Ibo, he was not appointed to make such a declaration on behalf of the Ikwerre people, it’s important that I put the records straight.
Now let’s establish these points:
- Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has Ikwerre as his Ethnic Nationality on all his documents and records.
- While at the University as an undergraduate, he was a member of National Union of Ikwerre Students (NUIS).
- He was an active member of Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM).
Now to the recent political declarations.
I remember in December, 2012 as the Governor of Rivers State, during an event to honour Arunma Oteh by the Item Community in Abiriba, Abia State. Chief Joe Irukwu while introducing Amaechi, described him as a true Ibo son. But when Amaechi collected the mic from the Chief to speak, the first thing he did was to correct Chief Joe Irukwu by exclaiming “I am Ikwerre, not Ibo.”
Again, in 2019 after the general elections, when Amaechi said he doesn’t know what the Ibos will do now for voting against the APC, that they cannot come to the table and demand for 2023 Ibo Presidency. Mr. Peter Obi while in Port Harcourt for the inauguration ceremony of Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike second term as Governor, replied Amaechi by saying “Amaechi is not an Ibo man, so he cannot speak for the Ibos on Ibo Presidency.”
Link where Amaechi confirmed what Peter Obi said: vanguardngr.com/2019/05/igbo-p…
Finally, in one of his interviews in 2019 while answering questions as regards the Ibos, Amaechi said “It is high time they (Ibo) came into national politics. They (Ibo) are completely out of the national politics and it will not pay them (Ibo). If Igbo are not found in national politics, it will be to the detriment of their (Ibo) children. I don’t know what they will do now for voting against the APC. For refusing to support the APC, they cannot come to the table to demand the presidency slot.” A man who is an Ibo man will not refer to the Ibos as “they” when asked a question about the Ibos.
I know the only response to this would be insults and abuse from the Ibo expansionists, no superior arguments with facts, but if you had common sense and with the ability to think, you’d figured out that since Amaechi did not join Ibo students union as an undergraduate but joined Ikwerre students union, did not join Ibo Youth organizations as a youth but was a strong member of Ikwerre youth organizations, did not claim to be Ibo during his elections in Rivers State (House of Assembly to Governorship) where Ibo votes are not needed and even joined Ikwerre lawyers during his Law School days, he only made that statement of being an Ibo man just to gain political support from the Ibos and win their their block votes during the presidential election.
Now, those who are in the habit of flooding my comment section with the screenshot of that Amaechi’s over-exaggerated and sensationalized quote can rest.